Call-box.



PATENTED MAY 2 4, 1904.

J.G.BAR0LAY.

GALL BOX. APPLIoATIoN FILED JAN. 27,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

Tins :zoA mom-Uma.. wAsmNsToN D c PATENTBD MAY 24, 1904.

J. C. BARGLAY.

GALL BOX. APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 27. 1904.

z SHEETS-SHEET l2.

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INVENTR ATTORNEYS y UNITED STATES Patented May 24, 1904.

JOHN C. BAROLAY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CALL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,026, dated May 24, 1904.

Application filed January 27, 1904. Serial No. 190,828. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. BARCLAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Call-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates -to improvements in call-boxes such as are employed in messenger call systems and tire-alarm systems and watchmens signal systems; and my invention consists in an attachment for messenger call-boxes by which the latter are adapted for giving disordinary messenger call-boxes for use both as alarm-boxes and as watchmens signal-boxes, to accomplish this object by a simple attachment to the call-box without change in its internal mechanism, and generally to make the whole device simple, compact, reliable, and relatively inexpensive.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which one form of device embodying my invention is illustrated and will then point out the novel features in claims. y

In Ithe said drawings, Figure 1 is a front view of the complete device, including the outer protecting-box, the door of which is shown closed. Fig. 2 is a side view of the call-box proper removed from the said outer box, said call-box provided with my improved attachment for operating it. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of the key employed. Fig. i shows a front view of the attachmentfor operating the mechanism of the call-box. Fig. 5 is a front view of the call-box with this operating mechanism removed, showing the contact devices. Fig. 6 is a side view of the mechanism of the call-box. Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating the operation of thesystem.

In the following description I will irst describe, with particular reference to Figs. 2,

4, and 5, my improved attachment for callboxes for adapting them for use as alarmboxes and also as signal-boxes and will then describe how the said boxes are inclosed to adapt them for the said uses.

My attachment for adapting an ordinary call-box foruse as an alarm-box and watchmans signal-box comprises a cover-plate 1 for the box, (outlines otl said cover-plate being shown principally in dotted lines in Fig. 4,) which plate may be substituted for the ordinary cover-plate of the standard call-box and is provided with guides 2 for a rack-bar 3 engaging a pinion 4 upon the spring winding-shaft 5 of the call-box. This rack-bar and its pinion are covered by another plate 6, slotted to permit vertical motion of an operating-hook 7 attached to the rack-bar. This latter plate customarily carries brief directions for operating the box in case of fire.

The lower end ot' the rack-bar projects` beyond-the plate 6 and is notched at 9.for engagement by a key. The cover-plate 1 is provided with a spindle 10 for the keyand with stops 11 and 12, limiting motion of the key. A key, such as may be used, is shown in detail in Fig. 3.

The mechanism of the call-box illustrated is that of one ot' the Well-known standard boxes, comprising one or more contact-Wheels 13 on a main shaft 14 and a corresponding brush or brushes 15 for engaging said Wheel or Wheels. The contact wheel or wheels 13 are toothed to alternately break and complete the signal-circuit when they rotate to give characteristic signals, and each box preferably has its own characteristic signal. The particular circuit-breaking mechanism illustrated is thatl of a well-known call-box comprising two brushes 15, engaging corresponding contact-wheels, (only one of which is seen in the dra\vings,)wliich are differently toothed, so that while one of the brushes is normally in contact with its wheel the other (which latter brush is commonly connected to ground) is normally out of contact with its wheel, the object being to obtain signals notwithstanding possible breaking of the circuit beyond IOO ceiving-station in case such breakage occurs; but this particular mechanism forms no portion of my invention, and I do not limit myself to its use. rIhe Shaft 14 is driven by simple spring mechanism of well-known type, comprising a spiral spring 16, surrounding shaft 5 and arranged to be wound by rotation of said shaft in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 5, and when said shaft is released to rotate the same backward, and thereby drive through a ratchet 17 and pawl 18 a gear-train 19, communicating motion to the shaft 14 and thence to another speed-regulating geartrain 20, comprising an escapement-wheel 21 and escapement 22.

a projection 24 of a cam 25, mounted on the spring-shaft 5. When the cam 25 is rotated in the direction' of the arrow, this projection 24 is moved away from the pin 23, and upon release of shaft 5 said cam rotates backward and the pin 23 rotates forward until the two again come together, whereupon the mechanism is locked.

So far as yet described the mechanism ofthe call-box is standard. W hen employing the callbox as an Aalarm-box, I preferably provide it withaspecialcam 25, similar in form to the ordinary cam with which such boxes are provided, except that the special cam has a shoulder 26, with which a brush 27 makes contact when said cam is rotated through an arc corresponding to more than onecomplete revolution of the contact-wheel 13. The brush 27 1 connect to a shunt-wire bridging the circuit in which the call-box is located, so that lwhen contact is complete between brush 27 and cam 25 all the call-boxes on beyond-the one being operated are eut out. The efleet of the closing of this short circuit will be seen by reference to Fig. 7, which illustrates one way of using the call-box. In this figure, 28, 29, and 30 designate three call-boxes connected in series in a circuit comprising conductor 31, conductor 32, relay 33, and battery 34. rlhis circuit is normally closed, and the ei'ect of the operation of any one of the call-.boxes in the circuit is to open and close the circuit successively for a predetermined number of times, each box of the circuit having, preferably, its distinctive signal. The opening and closing of the circuit in this manner operates the relay 33, and thereby the bell 35 or other device for receiving the signal.

Each of the alarm-boxes 1s provided with a shunt-circuit 36, bridging the alarm-circuit,

of those boxes while box 28 is sending in an alarm will have no effect.

rIhe means above described for closing a shunt-circuit through a box from which an The contact-wheel 13 is- .provided with a pin 23, normally engaged by alarm is being sent is claimed in another application for Letters Patent filed by me on April 5, 1904, Serial No. 201,676.

In practice the call-box is inclosed within another easing 37, Fig. 1, having a keyhole 40, through which the key may be inserted to operate the rack-bar'and having also a hinged door 38, held by a latch 41, which door normally prevents access to hook 7, but may nevertheless be opened to permit access to the hook by breaking a glass 39, set into an opening in said door with which glass the latch 41 engages.

The manner of operating the box is as follows: For ordinary service-signals, such as watchmens signals, the key is inserted through the keyhole in the outer box 37 and turned so far as the stops will permit, and then withdrawn. The key in its limited rotation permitted by the stops moves the rackbar down through a portion only of its full travel, permitting only a limited rotation of the contactwheels 13. In practice these stops are so placed that when the box is operated by the keyvthe said contact-wheels 13 rotate once only, and therefore the signal of the box is sent in once only. To send in an alarm, the outer box 37 is opened by breaking the glass, so that the catch 41 no longer engages, and then the hook 7 is pulled down as far as it will go and released. This operation rotates the cam 25 so far and winds up the spring 16 to such an extent that after the hook is released the contact-wheels rotate a number of times, usually eight times, before rotation of the contact-wheel is prevented by engagement of the pin 23 with the cam. The repe tition of -the characteristic signal of Athe box a number of times is the feature relied upon to distinguish alarm-signals from ordinary service-signals, and when the central operator perceives that the signal of a box is repeated he at once understands that an alarm is being sent in and acts accordingly.

One important advantage of my call-box when used as a combined watchmans box and alarm is that since the same circuit and contact apparatus is used for sending in the alarm which is used for sending in the watchmans signal the periodic receipt of the watchmans signals isproof that the box and circuit are in order. In other words, the alarm system is being constantly tested automatically. In this respect the alarm system is superior to ordinary lire-alarm systems, since the only absolutely certain test of an alarm-box and circuit is the actual operation of that box to send a signal over the circuit.

It will be obvious that the foregoing is but one embodiment of my invention and that the .same is capable of many and varied modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention and, further, that certain parts may be employed in connection with other parts of IOO IIO

' different construction.

Hence I do not desire to be limited only to the precise details oi construction and combination of parts herein.

It Will further be obvious that the call-box fitted with my invention is not limited to use simply as an alarm-box and Watchmans signal-box, but may be employed for a great variety oit' uses. I dor not limit myself, therefore, to any particular uses of the invention.

What I claim is- 1. In signaling apparatus, the combination With a box, and circuit-varying mechanism inclosed thereby having an operating-shaft, of a cover for said box, a gear on said shaft outside said cover, another gear carried by said cover and engaging said first gear, means for giving said second gear a limited motion, and other means for giving said second gear a greater motion.

2. In signaling apparatus, the combination with a box, and circuit-varying mechanism inclosed thereby having an operating-shaft, of a cover for said box, a gear on said shaft outside said cover, and a rack mounted on said cover engaging said rst gear, said rack adapted to be engaged by a key and to be given a limitedmotion thereby, and means for giving said rack motion independent of the key.

3. rIn signaling apparatus, the combination With a box, and circuit-varying mechanism inclosed thereby having an operating-shaft, of a cover `for said box, a gear on said shaft outside said cover, a rack engaging said gear and mounted in bearings on the outside of said cover adapted to permit sliding movement of the rack, said rack constructed to permit a key to engage it and impart to it a motion a cover for said box, a gear on said shaft out' side said cover, another gear engaging said rst gear and carried by said cover, said second gear constructed to permit a key to engage and impart to it motion through a pre-A determined range of travel, a plate carried by said cover-plate covering said gears, and a handle secured to said second gear, Working in a slot in said last-,named plate, and adapted to impart to said second gear motion through a diii'erent range of travel.

5. In signaling apparatus, the combination of a box, and circuit-varying mechanism inclosed thereby, having an operating-shaft, of a cover for said box, a gear on said shaft outside said cover, another gear in engagement with said first gear and mounted on said cover, a key-spindle projecting from said cover and adapted to receive a key, stops limiting motion of such key, said second gear adapted to be engaged by a key on said spindle and to be given motion thereby, and other means independent of said key for giving motion to said second gear.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN C. BARCLAY.

Witnesses:

FRANK KrrToN, C. A. VAN BRUNT. 

